How do you hide TV cables on the wall?

How to hide TV cables without hacking

Keep the cables on the surface rather than cutting a channel for them. HDB's electrical works guidelines say wiring may not be embedded in reinforced concrete slabs, beams, columns, walls, wall plaster or other finishes, and that includes wiring housed in metal or high impact PVC conduit. The same guidelines say covering wiring with PVC trunking, or encasing surface wiring in metal or high impact PVC conduit, needs no HDB permit.

Practical ways to keep cables out of sight:

• Surface trunking. TV cable trunking is a channel with a cover that runs along the wall from the TV to the socket. Painted to match the wall, it is hard to spot.
• Cable sleeve. A cable-management sleeve gathers several loose cables into one neat bundle, which suits short runs between a wall-mounted TV and a console.
• Console or panel. A low TV console, or a panel fixed behind the TV, hides the cables and plugs behind it.
• Shorter cables. Buy cables in the length you need, so there is less slack to coil up and hide.

Fitting the trunking

1. Plan the route. Decide where the TV and console will sit, then mark a straight path from the TV down to the socket.
2. Measure and cut. Measure each length and cut the trunking to size, so the pieces meet cleanly at joints and corners.
3. Fix it to the wall. Fix the base with adhesive or with screws, keeping each fixing on the marked route.
4. Lay the cables. Lay the cables in the channel without forcing or kinking them, and leave a little slack at each end.
5. Close and paint. Close the cover, then paint the trunking to match the wall.

HDB's renovation information asks residents to keep DIY works to 7am to 10.30pm, with no DIY drilling or hammering from 10.30pm to 7am. HDB's electrical works guidelines also say power-driven nails and screws must not exceed 6mm in diameter and 40mm in penetration depth. If you were thinking of chasing cables into the wall instead, read about hacking walls in an HDB flat first.

Power points behind the TV

A new point behind the TV shortens the cable run. HDB's electrical works guidelines say additional 13A power points and extensions of wiring need no HDB permit. The no-embedding condition still applies, and SP Services Form CS/5H endorsed by HDB must be submitted for testing of the new wiring. Concealed TV wiring is therefore not an option in an HDB flat: wiring may not be concealed in the wall, so new wiring runs in surface trunking, above a false ceiling or behind carpentry.

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) says electrical work at home should be carried out or supervised by an LEW, including installing or modifying wiring and adding, extending or replacing power points. EMA says electrical work in an HDB flat needs a Licensed Electrician, the class of LEW approved for loads of up to 45kVA.

Compare companies that list socket installation and wiring. If the TV, console and other devices all run from one power strip today, read about power strip overload before you plug in anything more.

Mount or strap the TV

While you sort out the cables, check that the TV itself is secure. The Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO) warns that unstable furniture and TVs are a serious tip-over risk, especially for young children. It advises mounting or strapping flat-screen TVs to the wall, or using a suitable stand as the manufacturer recommends, and not putting toys or remotes on TVs and dressers.

If the TV stays on a console, the console is furniture that can tip as well, so see how to anchor furniture to the wall. For a bracket, look at companies that list TV mounting and ask whether they can run the cables in trunking during the same visit.

What mounting and trunking cost

FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY

Published TV mounting rates

For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published rates from 3 companies run from S$40 to S$120. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a market average or a quote.

See 3 published TV mounting rates and sources

Lowest matching advertised rate per company, in SGD as published. "From" marks a starting price and ranges are shown in full. Check the source for minimums, GST and inclusions.

Company	Service as listed	Rate	Source
FixMove	TV, mirror, shelf, picture or cabinet mounting	From S$40 per job	fixmove.sg
Wefix4U	TV wall mount	From S$80 per job	wefix4u.sg
Handy King	TV wall mounting	From S$120 per job	handyking.sg

3 companies publish a TV mounting line, and all 3 price it per job. Their published rates run from S$40 to S$120 per job as printed, and S$80 per job is the middle company's published rate. Each row shows a company's lowest matching rate, and one line covers TV, mirror, shelf, picture or cabinet mounting together, so check what each price covers.

FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY

Published drilling and mounting rates

For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published drilling and mounting rates from 3 companies run from S$40 to S$120 per job (middle rate S$60), to mount one item. The middle figure is a real published rate, not an average. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a quote.

See 4 published drilling and mounting rates and sources

Lowest matching rate per company, in SGD as published.

Company	Service as listed	Rate	Source
Wefix4U	Drilling	From S$10 per hole	wefix4u.sg
FixMove	TV, mirror, shelf, picture or cabinet mounting	From S$40 per job	fixmove.sg
Repairhome.sg	Installation (TV brackets, mirrors, shelves, lights, curtain hardware)	From S$60 per job	repairhome.sg
Handy King	TV wall mounting	From S$120 per job	handyking.sg

4 companies publish a drilling and mounting line. 3 of them price it per job, from S$40 to S$120 per job as printed, with S$60 per job as the middle company's published rate. The fourth prices drilling from S$10 per hole. The scope as printed is to mount one item.

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